Lately, the Duterte admin has been heavily criticized for allowing for ending the 7-year policy of the Philippine government not to stamp Philippine visas on Chinese passports in protest of the image of the 9-dash Line featured on their pages. [Link here]

Secretary Locsin of the Foreign Affairs made the recommendation during the Cabinet meeting to stamp Philippine visa on passports of Chinese nationals who wish to enter the country instead of the practice of “placing it on a piece of paper”.

Rappler reporter Pia Ranada dropped the link on Twitter of the Rappler article talking about that development.

Of course, DFA Sec. Teddy Boy Locsin quickly replied to Ranada’s tweet defending the Palace decision. Locsin clarified stamping of PH visa on Chinese passports makes more sense, allowing the government to keep track of Chinese nationals entering via visa from our consulates in China or visas upon arrival. Stamping on slips of paper no one could keep track of is bad practice.

We will be able to keep track of Chinese nationals entering via visa from our consulates in China or visas upon arrival (after shorter vetting period)—hitherto stamped on slips of paper no one could keep track of. Now visas stamped on permanent Chinese passports—so we know all. https://t.co/gj1PK4Izrm

Of course, Angeles did not pass up the opportunity to take a jab at the previous admin who made the dumb decision of stamping PH visa on a piece of paper with high chance of getting lost, deliberately or otherwise.